Turning conveyor for flat structures, especially printed products

ABSTRACT

A turning conveyor for flat structures, especially printed products, arriving in an essentially fish-scale formation at a main conveyor. The turning conveyor encompasses a plurality of entrainment members which move along with the flat structures and each of which can be brought into engagement with a respective one of the flat structures. The entrainment members are controlled such that at least at the time that they are in engagement with a flat structure they carry out a relative movement with regard to the direction of movement of the main conveyor in order to turn the flat structures during the course of conveying same about an axis which is perpendicular to the flat structures.

United States Patent 1 1 Reist V May 7,1974

TURNING CONVEYOR FOR FLAT STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY PRINTED PRODUCTS Walter Relst, l-linwil, Switzerland Fehr & Reist AG, Hinwil, Switzerland Filed: Aug.'28, 1972 Appl. No.: 284,366

Inventor:

73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl 198/235, 198/180, 271/185,

51 Int. Cl. B65g 47/24 58 Field of Search 198/33 AB, 180, 179;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1971 Rochla .5198/33AB 5/1962 Reist 271/79 Great Britain 271/74 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Stoner, Jr.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A turning conveyor for flat structures, especially printed products, arriving in an essentially fish-scale formation at a main conveyor. The turning conveyor encompasses a plurality of entrainment members which move along with the flat structures and each of which can be brought into engagement with a respective one of the flat structures. The entrainment members are controlled such that at least at the time that they are in engagement with a flat structure they carry out a relative movement with regard to the direction of movement of the mainconveyor in order to turn the flat structures during the course of conveying same about an axis which is perpendicular to the flat structures.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PA'TENTEDIAY 11974 SHEET 1 UF 8 FIE! PATENTEMY 7 I974 SHEET 2 [IF 8 PATENTEUMAY 1 1w 3309214 SHEEI ii [If 8 PATENTEDMY mm 3809214 saw 5 or 8 l TURNING CONVEYOR FOR FLAT STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY PRINTED PRODUCTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved turning conveyor for flat structures, especially printed products, which appear in a so-called fish-scale fonnation at a main conveyor, for the purpose of turning or reversing theposition of such flat structures.

The expression fish-scale formation or arrangement as used in the context of this application is intended to signify an arrangement of flat structures which are disposed in an overlying spread stack formation, in other words, in the manner of a fanned deck of cards. Furthermore, the term printed products as used herein, or equivalent expressions, is intended to particularly connote-all types of printed products, such as for instance, newspapers, periodicals, advertising brochures, circulars, and even stationery such as notebooks, writing pads, and the like.

It is well known in this particular field of technology that most of the printed products appear at their point of origin or production, that is to say at the printing press in a so-called fish-scale formation. In this regard successive printed products mutually overlap one another and in their entirety form a type of linked band which is conveyed away from the point of origin and later sub-divided, wherein the portions of the fish-scale formation are stacked-up into desired stacks of such printed products.

Different constructional manifestations of equipment are known for conveying such printed products, and the same is also true for stacking thereof. Stacking devices are alsoknown to the art wherein there is arranged upstream or ahead thereof a so-called crosswise layering or depositing apparatus. This piece of equipment has the function of alternately rotating throgh 180 the printed products to be stacked or groups of such printed products which possess an irregular thickness over the extent of their surface, so that thickness irregularities in the stack can be compensated.

If it is intended to form a so-called crosswise deposited stack, then according to the technology existing up to now it was conventional practice to arrange a package delivery device after a conveyor for the fish-scale formation, this package delivery device serving to subdivide the fish-scale formation into individual stack components and following which there are arranged a crosswise depositing device as well as an actual stacking mechanism. Hence according to the prior art arrangements there were disposed in succession four pieces of equipment which are basically different in function, wherein at best the last piece of equipment, namely the stacking mechanism, can be designed for carrying out a double function, that is for crosswise depositing and for stacking.

On the other hand the position of the printed products appearing in a fish-scale formation from a printing press is not automatically suitable for the further processing of such printed products. As a general rule the fish-scale formation which appears at the delivery side of the printing press is manifested by the arrangement that the main fold of a product overlies or covers the so-called cut or cutting edge opposite the main fold of a preceding product. Hence, the cutting edges of the printed productsare inaccessible if, for instance, it is desired to include an insert at a later period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION T It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved construction of apparatus for turning flat structures, especially printed products, in a manner which is not associated with the aforemen 'tioned disadvantages of the prior art.

Yet a further object of the present invention concerns the provision of a turning conveyor of the previously mentioned type which permits considerable constructional simplification of theequipment following the conveyor and which enables altering the reference position of successive printed products with regard to one another in a fish-scale formation'for instance in such a manner that all of the main folds form the side edge of the fish-scale formation.

A further important object of the present invention relates to an improved apparatus for turning flat structures, especially printed products, in an extremely efficient and reliable manner, affording effective handling of the products and proper disposition thereof following turning to facilitate further processing of such products with a minimum of difficulty.

- Yet a further noteworthy object of the present invention relates to an improved apparatus for reliably and effectively turning flat structures, especially printed difficulty and in an extremely safe and efficient manner, wherein such apparatus is extremely versatile in that it can be easily modified so as to act upon selected products which are delivered thereto in a fish-scale formation.

A further object of. the present invention relates to a new and improved construction of turning apparatus for flat structures, especially printed products, which is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, extremely reliable in operation and affords safe handling of the products without any appreciable danger of damaging same, and further is not readily subject to breakdown and requires a minimum of servicing.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the proposed turning conveyor of this development is manifested by the features that there are provided a plurality of en'- trainment members which move along with the flat conveying action aboutan axis which is perpendicular to the flat structures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a simple constructional embodiment of turning apparatus designed according to the'invention serving the purpose of altering the reference position of successively following printed products without interrupting the fishscale formation;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to the showing of FIG. 1, however further simplified, of an embodiment of turning apparatus serving the purpose of alternately turning or rotating to one side a number of printed products and a similar number of printed products to the other side, so that the fish-scale formation thereafter can be directly piled-up into a cross-wise deposited stack;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through a gripper mechanism employed in the embodiments of apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, and taken transverse to the-direction ofrevolving motion thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the gripper mechanism depicted in FIG. 3 and showing in sectional view the associated hollow rail;

FIG. 5 is a modified embodiment of turning apparatus of this development employing grippers which engage the fish-scale formation of printed products at their trailing edge; I I

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an embodiment of apparatus employing two sets of individually activated entrainment members guided in two endless revolving paths or tracks, wherein the pathsin elevation are arranged in a mirror-image symmetrical arrangement with regard to one another;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the arrangement of apparatus depicted in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic top plan view of an embodiment of turning apparatus equipped with entrainment members in the form of swords; and

FIG. 9- is a perspective view showing a detail of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although in conjunction with the description of FIGS. 1 and 2 as will be given hereinafter there will be especially described the basic construction of the turning conveyor and its mode of operation there will particularly be considered in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4 exemplary constructional details which render possible such mode of operation.

Now considering the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 there is depicted in elevational view a fish-scale stream 10 of printed products consisting of individual examples or individual product articles 11 which are delivered from a suitable non-visible main conveyor band, which may be similar to the conveyor band 80 depicted in FIG. 5, in the direction of the arrow 12 to a turning apparatus, and specifically a turning conveyor 13 designed according to the teachings of this development. This turning conveyor 13 possesses a plurality of entrainment members constructed as grippers 14, in the exemplary embodiment there being shown 26 such grippers 14. These grippers 14 are secured at a uniform spacing from one another to an endless revolving transport chain 15 or equivalent structure. The transport chain 15 is guided over two sprocket wheels 16 and 17, the sprocket wheel or gear 17 being driven by any suitable and therefore not particularly illustrated drive in the direction of the indicated arrow '18. As will also be explained more fully hereinafter the grippers 14 are rotatably attached to the chain 15 for rotational move- I fixedly clamped, and the grippers 14 are now in their ment about an axis which is parallel to the axes of rotation of the sprocket wheels 16 and 17, and furthermore, the rotatable portion of each gripper 14 is rigidly connected for rotation with a sprocket wheel or gear, as will be more fully considered hereinafter, and which has been indicated by means of a small circle in the exemplary showing of FIG. 1.

Now upon the rotatable shaft or axis of the sprocket wheel 17 there is rigidly connected for rotation therewith a further sprocket wheel or gear 19. The sprocket wheel 19 drives a larger sprocket wheel or gear 21 through the agency of a chain 20. A duplex chain 22 is trained about a sprocket wheel identical to the sprocket wheel 21 and rigidly connected for rotation therewith, and therefore also conveniently indicated by the same reference character 21 in FIG. 1, and this duplex chain is also trained about a further sprocket wheel or gear 23. The one run of the duplex chain 22 extends directly neighboring the right-hand run of the transport chain 15 of FIG. 1, as best seen by referring to such Figure. This run of the duplex chain 22 is guided in a rail 24.

At this point it is to be mentioned that from the above discussion it should be recognized that the peripheral velocity or speed of the transport chain 15 is in the same sense but somewhat greater than that of the duplex chain 22.

At the region of the sprocket wheel 16 the grippers 14 are opened with their mouth openings directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of revolving motion, and such grippers travel in this condition into the path of movement of the fish-scale stream 10 delivered with approximately the same velocity. Since, however, the path of movement of the grippers 14 at this location is curved, and that of the individual product examples 1 1 is linear, the leading edges of the individual products travel into the open grippers 14 whereas the path of movement of such grippers approaches in its direction that of the direction of travel l2'of the fish-scale product stream 10.

At the region where the grippers 14 move off of the sprocket wheel 16 they are closed, that is these grippers are placed into their normal closed condition. As a result the individual product 11 located with its leading edge at the mouth of the associated gripper 14 is now engaged position. At the same time the sprocket wheel associated with each gripper 14 begins to engage with the duplex chain 22 which functions to a certain extent as a slower moving toothed arrangement or gear rack. Consequently, the grippers 14 rotate as long as the sprocket wheels thereof mesh with the duplex chain 22, this rotation being in the clockwise direction with regard to the transport chain 15, and as a result the individual products 11 are simultaneously further conveyed approximately in the direction of the arrow 12.

At the height where the transport chain 15 travels onto the driven sprocket wheel 17 and the duplex chain 22 travels onto the sprocket wheel 21 the grippers 14 are again opened and therefore the individual products 11 which in the exemplary embodiment under consideration have been rotated through an angle of are released onto a further conveyor band which has not been particularly illustrated, and which serves to further conveyv the individual products just as before in the fish-scale formation and with the same spacing, but in an altered position, in the direction of the arrow 25.

At the same time the sprocket wheels associated with the grippers 14 come out of engagement with the duplex chain 22 and the grippers are returned back into the starting position, for instance through the action "of a suitable restoring or return spring, in other words, are rotated back into the position where the mouth of each such gripper is directed towards the rear, and in which position these grippers now travel back along the lefthand run of the transport chain depicted in FIG. 1.

Continuing, now in FIG. 2 there is illustrated in the same manner as the illustration of FIG. 1, however, in somewhat simplified form, an exemplary embodiment of apparatus which to a certain extent can be considered to be like the embodiment of FIG. 1 but divided into two mirror-image arranged halves. In this arrangement there will be recognized a total of 24 grippers 14 and 14'. The twelve grippers 14 are secured to the transport chain 15 in three groups each of which has four such individual grippers, and wherein between each group there is present a space or gap corresponding to the spatial requirements for one such gripper group. In similar manner the twelve grippers 14' are secured to the transport chain 15' in three groups each of which contains four grippers, and again wherein between each group there is present a space or gap corresponding to the spatial requirements for a further gripper group.

The transport chains 15 and 15' possess revolving paths of travel which are mirror-image symmetrical to one another and are rotated with regard to one another such that the gripper groups of one chain fit into the gaps or spaces between two gripper groups of the other chain.

Once again, a corresponding run of a duplex chain like the duplex chain of FIG. I and therefore not particularly shown in the illustration of FIG. 2 is associated with each of the transport chains 15 and 15' and each such run moves in the same general direction, indicated by the arrow 12, as the fish-scale stream 10 of the individual products 11. These duplex chains similarly serve the purpose of rotating through 90 the grippers l4 and 14' which pass through the corresponding run of the associated duplex chain, and specifically rotate the grippers 14 in the clockwise direction and the grippers 14' in the counterclockwise direction.

The mode of operation of this exemplary embodiment of equipment is basically the same as that considered above with regard to the arrangement of FIG. 1, with the difference that here alternately four grippers of the one chain and four grippers of the other chain are effective. As a result the individual products 11 and 11 which are present at the fish-scale stream 10 in each case have four rotated towards the one side and the successive four such products to the other side. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 the individual products wherein the originally leading edge or fold have been rotated towards the right as viewed in the direction of conveying have been designated by reference character 11 and those where the fold or edge has been rotated towards the left have been designated by reference character 11.

Now the mechanism which renders possible the previously discussed mode of operation will be considered hereinafter in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4. Now by referring to these Figures it will be recognized that there is illustrated therein all essential details of one of the grippers 14, which it will be recalled are also identical to the grippers 14. Each such gripper 14 embodies a carriage 31 guided in a hollow rail 30, carriage 31 having a continuous vertical bore 32 in which there is rotatably mounted a gripper shaft 33. The upper end of the gripper shaft 33 extends past the vertical bore 32 and simultaneously serves as a pin for the inner travelling ring or race of a roller or a ball bearing 34 travelling at the inside of both vertical sides of the hollow rail 30 which in cross-section is of rectangular configuratron.

The ball bearing 34 is secured against axial displacement upon the shaft 33 in that on the one hand there is provided a flange 35 formed at the shaft 33 and on the other hand there is provided a sleeve member 36 which surrounds the shaft 33. The sleeve member 36is supported in turn by means of an intermediate ring or through the agency of an axial ball bearing 37 at the upper end of the carriage 31.

The carriage 31 extends through a slot 38 of the hollow rail 30 and possesses extensions or extended portions 39, 40, 41 and 42 both at the inside as well as the outside of the hollow rail 30.

At the extensions or extended portions 39 and 41 there is rotatably mounted through the agency of a respective shaft 44 and 45 a respective roller 46 and 47 which, viewed in the direction of travel of the carriage 31 as indicated by the arrow 43 of FIG. 4, protrude towards the right and support the carriage internally of the hollow rail 30 along the right lengthwise extending edge of the slot 38, as best seen by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4.

On the other hand, at the extended portions 40 and 42 there are rotatably mounted by'means of a respective shaft 48 and 49 a respective further travelling roll or roller 50 and 51 which protrude at the left and support the carriage 31 at the outside at the hollow rail 30 along the left lengthwise extending edge of the slot 38.

Now the extended portion or extension 41 of the carriage 31 which is disposed so as to be protruding towards the front in the direction of travel of the carriage 31 and is located internally with regard to the rail 30 additionally carries a ball bearing 54 which is secured by means of a pin 52 and intermediate ring 53.

This ball bearing 54 is arranged so as to be axially parallel to the ball bearing 34 and likewise travels at the inside of the hollow rail 30, however somewhat lower than the ball bearing 34. v

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the carriage 31 is guided in the rail 30 in such a manner that it is only displaceable along such rail 30, however cannot be rotated relative to such rail. Moreover, the shaft 33 is always disposed perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the rail 30.

Now at the portion of the carriage 31 which protrudes from the rail 30 there is anchored by means of suitable angle members 55 and 56 a link of the transport chain 15, which therefore is also indirectly guided by the hollow rail 30 and which thus can have imparted thereto a curved course of travel, for instance as shown for the arrangement of FIG. 2, depending upon the course of the hollow rail 30.

At the lower end of the shaft member or shaft 33 which is rotatable relative to the carriage 31 there is keyed for rotation therewith by means of a keyway 57, and viewed from the top towards the bottom, a sprocket wheel or gear 58, an intermediate member 59 and the fixed jaw or clamp 60 of the associated gripper mechanism. This fixed jaw 60 is pinned to the lower end of the shaft 33 through the agency of a peg or pin member 68.

Now at the fixed jaw 60 there is articulated at location 61 a movable jaw member 62 which is constructed in the form of a lever and which is normally held in its closed position by a spring member 67. Now two rollers or rolls 64 and 65 are rotatably mounted at the end 63 of the jaw member or jaw 62 which is situated opposite the actual gripping end considered with regard to the hinge or articulation point 61. The axes of these'rollers 64 and 65 are located at right angles to one another. These rollers 64 and 65 serve the purpose of opening the gripper jaws or jaw members 60 and 62, and specifically at such time as they travel upon an associated stationary block or cam, and in FIG. 4 there is shown such block or cam 66 in phantom lines for'the roller 65. In particular this roller 65 serves the purpose of bringing about opening movement of the associated gripper upon travelling onto the block or cam 66 when the gripper jaw members 60 and 62 are in the position depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. The roller 64 opens the gripper jaws 60 and 62 when such have been rotated through an angle of 90 about an axis defined by the shaft member 33.

As already explained in conjunction with the discussion of FIG. 1 the gripper jaw members 60 and 62 are normally directed towards the rear. In order to define this position there is provided at the sprocket wheel 58 a circular sector-shaped slot 69 which extends over approximately 90 and into which engages a contact or impact pin 70 anchored to one side of the carriage 31. Additionally, a return spring 73 is accommodated at a compartment 72 which is formed by providing a recess 71 for the shaft 33 at the vertical bore 32 of the carriage 31. The upper end of this return spring 73 is anchored at the carriage 31 and its lower end at the shaft 33. The purpose of this spring 73 is to rotate the shaft member 33 and the sprocket wheel 58 associated therewith to such an extent that the end of the slot 69 impacts against'the contact or impact pin 70, that is to say, serves to hold the gripper jaw members 60 and 62 in a position where they are directed towards the rear.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is also illustrated the duplex chain 22 which was discussed in conjunction with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, and wherein the lower row of link elements are guided in a substantially U- shaped rail 24 lined with a sliding layer or coating 74. The slide rail or bracket 24 extends in the path of the duplex chain 22, that is to say its upper row of links are intended to cooperate with the sprocket wheels 58 of the grippers 14, parallel to the rail member 30 and at a lateral spacing with regard to the lengthwise central plane thereof, this spacing corresponding to the radius of the sprocket wheels or gears 58.

.Now as a gripper member 14 arrives by means of its sprocket wheel 58 at the duplex chain 22, then the jaws 60 and 62 are automatically rotated about the axis of the shaft member 33. In this regard the speed of rotation and therefore also the path through which the gripper 14 moves during a certain rotation, for instance through an angle of 90, is dependent upon the difference of the revolving speed of movement of the transport chain 15 and the duplex chain as well as-the diameter of the sprocket wheel 58.

The gripper construction described in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4 can not only be employed for the arrangements of turning apparatus depicted in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2 but also for similar constructional embodiments in which the gripper jaws or jaw members 60 and 62 so to speak depend from the rail 30. Moreover, the illustrated gripper construction can also be employed for embodiments in a conventional fish-scale stream of turning conveyors in which the trailing edge, that is to say the lower edge of the individual products, is engaged.

Such type of embodiment has been schematically depicted in FIG. 5. By referring thereto there will be recognized a total of for instance five grippers 14, the carriages 31 of which are guided in the hollow rail 30 which in this case extends beneath the gripper jaws 60 and 62. The grippers 14 are secured at a uniform spacing at the transport chain 15 and are each equipped with a respective sprocket wheel or gear 58 which in conjunction with the chain member, not here particularly illustrated, and which can move slower or quicker, brings about the rotation of the gripper jaw members or jaws 60 and 62.

In this case the transport chain 15 is driven with the speed of rotation V which is somewhat greater than the velocity or speed of movement V, of an infeed conveyor band arranged above the grippers l4 and which delivers thereto the fish-scale formation. Since the grippers 14 are moved quicker than the delivery or infeed speed of the fish-scale formation 10, the gripper jaws 60 and 62 which are opened by means of the associated block or cam overtake each individual product of the fish-scale stream and engage such at its trailing edge.

In order to ensure that the thus engaged fish-scale formation does not bend through at both sides of the grippers towards the bottom, that is to say does not move into the region of the sprocket wheel located below the gripper jaws 60 and 62, there is advantageously arranged to both sides of the row of grippers a narrow supporting conveyor band 81 which is likewise driven at the velocity of approximately V Consequently, it is to be remarked that this conveyor band at the region of the action of the grippers has a purely supporting function and can equally well be replaced by a sliding rail or equivalent support rail structure.

Although the previously described embodiments of turning conveyor possess entrainment members in the form of clamping grippers, there is also contemplated an embodiment of equipment which can be utilized in a much more versatile manner in the sense that it can be converted with only a minimum amount of conversion time from the mode of operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 to the mode of operation of the embodiment of FIG. 2 and vice versa.

Such type embodiment of turning apparatus or tuming conveyor has been depicted in FIG. 6 in plan view and in schematic cross-sectional view in FIG. 7. By referring to these Figures there will be recognized the fish-scale formation 10 of individual products which are delivered in the direction of the arrow 12 from a non-illustrated main conveyor band of any suitable design, such as for example conveyor band 80 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5. Now at a frame there are provided two transport chains 91 and- 92 which with regard to their course of travel are arranged in a mirrorimage symmetrical arrangement with resepct to the direction of conveying. Each of these transport chains 91 and 92 is trained about four respective sprocket wheels or gears 93, 95, 97, 99 and 94, 96, 98 and 100, each of which has a vertical directed axis, and in each case one of which is driven. Here also entrainment members 101 and 102 are arranged at a uniform spacing from one another at the respective chains 91 and 92. As best seen by referring to FIG. 7 each of these entrainment members 101 and 102 is equipped with a carriage 103 designed similar to the carriage 31 of the previously described embodiments. The respective groups of carriages 103 for each of the respective entrainment members 101 and 102 are mounted in a respective endless revolving hollow rail 104. Each of the carriages 103 supports a shaft member 105 which is rotatably mounted at the carriage. At 'each' such shaft member 105 there is seated a sprocket wheel or gear 106 and instead of employing a mechanical gripper such sprocket wheel 106 carries a suction arrangement 107. Now in FIG. 7 for the sake of simplicity in illustration there have not been depicted the transport chains9l and 92 as well as the rotary chains which come into meshing engagement with the sprocket wheels 106 of the conveyor-entraining members 101-and 102.

Each of the shaft members 105 is designed as a hollow axle and serves not only as the rotational axis for the entrainment members but rather also for connection of the suction arrangement 107 at a suction pump 108 or equivalent device. For this purpose there is connected to each of the shaft members 105 a flexible hose conduit 109, the other end of which is connected to the rotatable portion 110 of a distributor head 111, and wherein the fixed portion 112 of the distributor head 111 is connected through the agency of a suction conduit 113 with the suction side of the suction pump 108. The distributor head 111 is designed in the manner of a distributor valve which only connects that one of the hoses 109 to the suction pump 108 and with which are associated the conveyor-entrainment members 101 and 102 respectively, which just pass through the conveying-effective path of the revolving path of travel of the chains 91 and 92 respectively. In FIGS. 6 and 7 there have been shown in full lines the suction conduits 109 which are just connected to the suction pump 108, whereas the non-connected suction conduits or hoses 109 have been shown in broken lines. I

Additionally, in each of the shaft members 105 there is provided any suitable manually operable shut-off valve, which therefore only has been schematically indicated by reference character 150, for the throughpassage of the suction air. Consequently, it is possible to separate as desired each of the suction arrangements 107 from the associated hose conduit or to connect such therewith. If all of the shut-off or closure values.

150 of the entrainment members 101 at the chain 91 are opened, whereas the shut-off valves of the entrainment members 102 at the chain 92 are closed, then, it should be recognized that only the suction arrange ments 107 at the entrainment members 101 will bechain 92 are open, whereas those of the conveyor or entrainment members 101 at the chain members 91 are closed, then, it should be equally apparent that the turning conveyor likewise only is: effective at one side, but in contrast to the arrangement of FIG. 1 at the other side thereof.

Now with the adjustment of the equipment as illustrated in FIG. 6 and of the total of thirty conveyorentrainment elements 101 at the chain 91 always five are adjusted with opened shut-off valve and the neighboring five with closed shut-off valve. The same holds true for the total of thirty conveyor-entrainment members 102 at the chain 92. As a result there is realized a mode of operation which extensively corresponds to that of the turning conveyor of FIG. 2, wherein, however, with this embodiment the number of successively conveying-effective conveyor-entrainment members can be extensively freely chosen by suitably opening and closing the associated shut-off valves.

Since with this embodiment, just as was the case for the embodiment of FIG. 5, the entrainment members act from below upon the individual products which are in the fish-scale stream 10 there are advantageously provided to both sides of the directly neighboring runs of the chains 91 and 92 small conveyor bands 113 and 114 which serve to support the fish-scale stream 10 and prevent that such individual products will bend through in a roof-like manner. Additionally, laterally of the small conveyor band 113 and 11.4 there are arranged further sliding surfaces 115 and. 116 which likewise support the fish-scale stream 10. These sliding or support surfaces 115 and 116 can also be extended towards the side so that they completely cover the returning run of each respective chain 91 and 92.

With the illustrated exemplary embodiments of turning conveyors the rotational movement of the grippers and the suction arrangements is realized by means of a sprocket wheel which engages with a chain moving at a different velocity in comparison to the speed of revolving motion of the transport chain. However, it should be understood that instead of using a sprocket wheel for this purpose there can also be provided a toothed segment or rack or equivalent structure. More over, the rotational movement of the conveyingentrainment members can also be carried out through the agency of a lever secured rigidly for rotation to the respective shafts 33 and 105, and which for rotation travels onto a block or cam or possesses a followerelement at its end which travels onto a control cam or curve member.

Now with the embodiment of FIG. 8 there is again illustrated a fish-scale stream 10 of individual products, here in the form of newspapers 11, which are advanced by means of a non-illustrated conveyor band, again like the conveyor band 80 of FIG. 5 for instance, in the direction of the arrow 12. Just as was the case for the embodiment of FIG. 2 two endless revolving driven chains 120 and 121 are arranged at a section of the illustrated conveying path, wherein the respective run of each. such chain 120 and 121 which is closer to the fish-scale stream 10 of products 11 moves in the same direction therewith and is guided through a slightly curved course by a non-illustrated slotted hollow rail which may be similar to the hollow rail constructions previously discussed. At each of the chains 120 and 121 there are secured sets or groups of entrainment members 122 and 123 respectively. The entrainment members of one set or group are arranged at the same spacing from one another and the entrainment member sets at one chain are spaced from one another at a distance corresponding to the space requirements of a set of entrainment members at the other chain. To this extent the construction of this arrangement is extensively similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

. However in contrast thereto here the entrainment members are not secured to the associated chains so as to be rotatable relative to such chain. As best seen by referring to FIG. 9 each of the entrainment members 122 and 123 is secured to the associated chain through the agency of a guide block 124 fixedly anchored to an associated chain link. Now at the lower end of each such guide block 124, which incidentally also travels through the slot of the non-illustrated hollow rail, there is secured the one leg 125 of the associated entrainment member which in this case is in the form of a lying or reposed U-shaped member. The other longer leg 126 of such entrainment member is sharpened at its free end 127 into the form of a rounded tip and is therefore in the form of a sword-like structure which is suitable for engaging into one of the side edges of the printed product which merges with the main fold thereof.

As best seen by referring to FIG. 8 each of these entrainment members 122 and 123 accordingly engages the printed product by means of its free end 127, upon arrival at the entrained run of the chain, at a side of the printed product which is being overtaken to a certain extent and until the free end 127 of each entrainment member arrives at the inside of the fold. Owing to the movement of the chain and also because the chain at this location is driven somewhat quicker than the speed of movement of the main conveyor band the free end of such entrainment member carries out a leading relative movement with regard to the main conveying direction 12. As a result the previously leading fold will be pushed out of the fish-scale formation. Since, however, the point of engagement of the entrainment member is not centrally of the fold and the individual products are braked owing to the frictional contact with the preceding and the successive products this pushing-out of the fold brings about a rotation of the newspaper or other product, as such has been clearly illustrated in FIG. 8. As soon as the entrainment member subsequently begins to depart from the therewith moving run of the chain it departs from the edge of the product which is now the side edge owing to the rotation of the previously leading edge of such product. The end effect is that the mode of operation of this embodiment is completely comparable to that of FIG. 2 and that of FIG. 6, since the fish-scale stream departing from such turning conveyor always has a number of newspapers with the fold running towards the left and alternately a number of newspapers with the fold running towards the right.

It should be understood that in the event there is only desired a rotation of the products to one side, then only one of the chains 120 or 121 would be provided, but in that case such would be equipped over its entire length with the entrainment members. Likewise it should be understood that with this embodiment the height of the revolving path of travel of the free ends 127 of the entrainment members is advantageously adjustable over the conveyor surface of the main conveyor by elevationally adjusting the entire chain with the guide rails. Consequently this embodiment of the equipment can also be accommodated to different thicknesses of the products, such as the individual newspaper copies or examples.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for individually changing the orientation of flat structures within a continuous imbricated formation of such structures while such formation is being conveyed, comprising a plurality of entrainment members, at least one orbiting endless entrainment chain, each of said entrainment members being secured to said entrainment chain,

said orbiting entrainment chain moving said entrainment members through an orbital path, said orbital path having an active entrainment portion throughout which the entrainment members engage the flat structures,

said active entrainment portion defining a linear path, said linear path being parallel to a plane defined by said conveyed flat structures, each said entrainment member being capable of engagement and disengagement with one of the flat structures, and rotation means for controlling the entrainment members at least when in engaging relationship with one of 'said flat structures, said rotation means rotating the flat structures while in said active entrainment portion about an axis which is essentially perpendicular to the flat structures,

whereby the flat structures are changed in orientation throughout about within said plane of the flat structures.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said entrainment members are secured to said chain at an es- .sentially uniform spacing from one another, a plurality of carriages at which each entrainment member is arranged, rail means for guiding said carriages, each of said entrainment members including components for engagement with each flat structure, said components being rotatably mounted at said carriage.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein said rotation means includes a plurality of shaft members, each of said components of each entrainment member being secured to each said shaft member, wherein a toothed drive element is seated at each said shaft member, a toothed .element means meshes with said toothed drive element upon passage of said toothed drive element through said active entrainment portion of said orbital path for the flat structures, said toothed element means carrys out a relative movement directed substantially parallel tothe course of travel of said orbiting endless entrainment chain with regard to said orbiting endless entrainment chain.

4. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein said toothed drive element and toothed element means are complementary meshing components, said toothed element means including a chain driven at a speed different from that of said orbiting endless entrainment chain, said chain extending substantially parallel to a portion of said orbiting endless entrainment chain.

5. The device as defined in claim 2, including a second orbiting endless entrainment chain carrying a second set of entrainment members, and wherein said second orbiting endless entrainment chain moves in a substantially mirror-image fashion with respect to the movement of the other orbiting endless entrainment chain and in substantially the same plane.

6. The device as defined in claim 5, wherein said second set of entrainment members secured to the second orbiting endless entrainment chain is arranged in groups in such a manner that between respective neighboring groups of the second endless chain there is provided a space the length of which substantially corresponds to the spatial requirements of a group of entrainment members secured to the other endless chain, and wherein the endless chains in the direction of the orbiting motion are arranged in a turned fashion with regard to one another through the length of one such space.

7. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said entrainment members each include a gripper having gripper jaws for engagement with a leading edge of each of said flat structures.

8. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the entrainment members are grippers having gripper jaws for engagement with a trailing edge of each of said flat structures, said grippers being driven at a displacement velocity higher than that of the conveyed imbricated formation of flat structures.

9. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said entrainment members include suction arrangements for engagement with the flat structures, distributor valve means, and individual connection conduits for placing said suction arrangements into operable association with a suction pump.

10. The device as defined in claim 9, including a second orbiting endless entrainment chain carrying a second set of entrainment members, wherein said second orbiting endless entrainment chain moves in substantially mirror-image fashion with regard to the movement of the other orbiting endless entrainment chain and in substantially the same plane, and wherein each suction arrangement includes a shut-off valve means for randomly disconnecting each suction arrangement from the associated connection conduit. 

1. A device for individually changing the orientation of flat structures within a continuous imbricated formation of such structures while such formation is being conveyed, comprising a plurality of entrainment members, at least one orbiting endless entrainment chain, each of said entrainment members being secured to said entrainment chain, said orbiting entrainment chain moving said entrainment members through an orbital path, said orbital path having an active entrainment portion throughout which the entrainment members engage the flat structures, said active entrainment portion defining a linear path, said linear path being parallel to a plane defined by said conveyed flat structures, each said entrainment member being capable of engagement and disengagement with one of the flat structures, and rotation means for controlling the entrainment members at least when in engaging relationship with one of said flat structures, said rotation means rotating the flat structures while in said active entrainment portion about an axis which is essentially perpendicular to the flat structures, whereby the flat structures are changed in orientation throughout about 90* within said plane of the flat structures.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said entrainment members are secured to said chain at an essentially uniform spacing from one another, a plurality of carriages at which each entrainment member is arranged, rail means for guiding said carriages, each of said entrainment members including components for engagement with each flat structure, said components being rotatably mounted at said carriage.
 3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein said rotation means includes a plurality of shaft members, each of said components of each entrainment member being secured to each said shaft member, wherein a toothed drive element is seated at each said shaft member, a toothed element means meshes with said toothed drive element upon passage of said toothed drive element through said active entrainment portion of said orbital path for the flat structures, said toothed element means carrys out a relative movement directed substantially parallel to the course of travel of said orbiting endless entrainment chain with regard to said orbiting endless entrainment chain.
 4. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein said toothed drive element and toothed element means are complementary meshing components, said toothed element means including a chain driven at a speed different from that of said orbiting endless entrainment chain, said chain extending substantially parallel to a portion of said orbiting endless entrainment chain.
 5. The device as defined in claim 2, including a second orbiting endless entrainment chain carrying a second set of entrainment members, and wherein said second orbiting endless entrainment chain moves in a substantially mirror-image fashion with respect to the movement of the other orbiting endless entrainment chain and in substantially the same plane.
 6. The device as defined in claim 5, wherein said second set of entrainment members secured to the second orbiting endless entrainment chain is arranged in groups in such a manner that between respective neighboring groups of the second endless chain there is provided a space the length of which substantially corresponds to the spatial requirements of a group of entrainment members secured to the other endless chain, and wherein the endless chains in the direction of the orbiting motion are arranged in a turned fashion with regard to one another through the length of one such space.
 7. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said entrainment members each include a gripper having gripper jaws for engagement with a leading edge of each of said flat structures.
 8. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the entrainment members are grippers having gripper jaws for engagement with a trailing edge of each of said flat structures, said grippers being driven at a displacement velocity higher than that of the conveyed imbricated formation of flat structures.
 9. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said entrainment members include suction arrangements for engagement with the flat structures, distributor valve means, and individual connection conduits for placing said suction arrangements into operable association with a suction pump.
 10. The device as defined in claim 9, including a second orbiting endless entrainment chain carrying a second set of entrainment members, wherein said second orbiting endleSs entrainment chain moves in substantially mirror-image fashion with regard to the movement of the other orbiting endless entrainment chain and in substantially the same plane, and wherein each suction arrangement includes a shut-off valve means for randomly disconnecting each suction arrangement from the associated connection conduit. 